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Payton Freeman bags Top-5 finish at Montpelier and Oakshade

The fourth week on tour with the DIRTcar Summer Nationals brought Payton Freeman to Montpelier Speedway (Montpelier, Ind.) on Wednesday afternoon for the $5,000-to-win opener. (Jim DenHamer photo)

With 29 Late Models entered, Freeman outdueled fast-qualifier Billy Moyer Jr. in his heat race to pick up the win. Receiving the third-starting position for the feature via the redraw, Payton dropped two spots in the 40-lap affair to finish fifth. He followed Bobby Pierce, Devin Moran, Billy Moyer Jr., and Devin Shiels across the line.

The following night at Shadyhill Speedway (Medaryville, Ind.), Payton edged his way into the main event with the third-and-final transfer spot in his B-Main. Charging forward 10 spots in the 40-lap affair, Freeman reeled in an 11th-place finish.

On Friday with Mother Nature winning again at Farmer City Raceway (Farmer City, Ill.) as they attempted to host the DIRTcar Summer Nationals for the second try, Freeman headed to Tri-City Speedway (Granite City, Ill.) to compete with the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series (LOLMDS) for the NAPA Know How 50. After recording a successful time trial effort, Payton tagged the wall in his heat, forcing him to take a fast-time provisional into the main event. With $12,000 on the line, Payton retired on the eighth circuit.

Rejoining the DIRTcar Summer Nationals on Saturday, Payton trekked to Oakshade Raceway (Wauseon, Ohio) on Saturday for the Birthday Race. Starting the $10,000-to-win A-Main in second via heat race victory, Freeman faded two spots to register a fourth-place finish. He trailed Devin Moran, Rusty Schlenk, and Bobby Pierce to the checkers with Devin Shiels coming in fifth.

Sunday’s scheduled event at Wayne County Speedway (Orrville, Ohio) fell victim to Mother Nature.

Freeman climbed to third in the latest DIRTcar Summer Nationals point standings.

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